Religion and the American Presidency

This book challenges the idea that the mixing of religion and presidential politics is a new phenomenon. It explores how presidents have drawn on their religious upbringing, rhetoric, ideas, and beliefs to promote their domestic and foreign policies to the nation. This influence is evident in Washington's decision to add "so help me God" to the presidential oath, accusations by Adam's supporters that Jefferson was an infidel, Lincoln's biblical metaphors during the Civil War, and FDR's call to fight against Nazi totalitarianism on behalf of Judeo-Christian civilization. It is also apparent in Truman's support for Israel, Eisenhower's Cold War decision to add "In God We Trust" on American currency, the debate over JFK's Catholicism, Jimmy Carter's born-again Christianity, Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech, Clinton's public repentance, and George W. Bush's "crusade" against Islamic terrorists.

This volume explores these issues of religion and power in the presidencies of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush through scholarly interpretations, primary sources, and illustrations.

Religion and the American Presidency shatters the myth that presidents, somehow, can place their religiosity aside and objectively deal with domestic and foreign issues.

Miguel de la Torre, Iliff School of Theology

By itself, this collection could serve as the basis for a course. The combination of analytical essays on thirteen presidents plus excerpts from their writings about religion gives students all they need to delve into the heart of this tangled, enduring issue. Gaston Espinosa's long introduction lays out the issues and provides a wealth of information. An extremely useful book.

Richard Bushman, Gouverneur Morris Professor of History emeritus, Columbia University, and winner of the Bancroft Prize in American History

A wonderful collection of careful examinations of religion's influence in different presidencies over the course of our country's history. The volume is unique in its breadth of coverage and the nuance of its argumentation, revealing how different presidents have chartered a path between strict separation and wholesale accommodation, all the while seeking to be faithful to the separation of church and state and mapping out new territory by revealing how religion was a much more important factor in a number of administrations that have been conventionally viewed as being largely devoid of religious influences.

This interesting book balances presidential professions of faith with acknowledgment of private sins and the objections of nonbelievers to explicit religious demonstrations in public life.

Rich Barlow, Boston Globe

Among its strengths is the inclusion of a considerable amount of newsworthy material for the thirteen presidents whose religious views are examined.

Al Menendez, Voice of Reason

Immediately, one can imagine the value of this book in attempts to teach undergraduates something about religion and politics in American history.

Kansas History

PrefaceIntroduction1. Religion and the Presidency of George Washington, by Daniel L. Dreisbach and Jeffry H. MorrisonReligious Writings of George Washington2. Religion and the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson, by Thomas E. BuckleyReligious Writings of Thomas Jefferson3. Religion and the Presidency of James Madison, by Garrett Ward SheldonReligious Writings of James Madison4. Religion and the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln, by Andrew R. MurphyReligious Writings of Abraham Lincoln5. Religion and the Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, by Gary Scott SmithReligious Writings of Franklin Delano Roosevelt6. Religion and the Presidency of Harry S. Truman, by Elizabeth Edwards SpaldingReligious Writings of Harry S. Truman7. Religion and the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, by Jerry BergmanReligious Writings of Dwight D. Eisenhower8. Religion and the Presidency of John F. Kennedy, by Thomas J. CartyReligious Writings of John F. Kennedy9. Religion and the Presidency of Jimmy Carter, by Kenneth E. MorrisReligious Writings of Jimmy Carter10. Religion and the Presidency of Ronald Reagan, by Paul KengorReligious Writings of Ronald Reagan11. Religion and the Presidency of George H. W. Bush, by Kjell O. LejonReligious Writings of George H. W. Bush12. Religion and the Presidency of William Jefferson Clinton, by Gastón EspinosaReligious Writings of William Jefferson Clinton13. Religion and the Presidency of George W. Bush, by David AikmanReligious Writings of George W. BushConclusionList of ContributorsIndex

About the Author

Gastón Espinosa is associate professor of religious studies at Claremont McKenna College. His books include Latino Religions and Civic Activism in the United States and Mexican American Religions: Spirituality, Activism, and Culture. He is the editor of the Columbia University Press Series on Religion and Politics.